. >> these were local forces of self defense. >> denied there were troops in crimea? >> yes, he did. >> reporter: these tweets from reporters on the ground seem to confirm american assertions that the mystery soldiers are from full-fledged russian military units. yesterday, ambassador said people in crimea and elsewhere invan were being targeted and attacked. >> when the life and security of the residents of crimea are subject to threats due to at a timeo gangs and nationalists we would like to say russia's actions are appropriate and legitmat >> reporter: there have been protests but there are no reports of deaths or serious injury since the interim government took over. >> there has been no surge in crime, no surge in mopolitical rhetoric pub here the russian government would have you believe against all of the evidence that there have been mass defenses from ukrainians to russia or mass attacks on churches in eastern ukraine. >> hasn't happened either. >> this coincides with our interests to protect those people who we consider are closely linked to us. >> one cris